JSDF Marching Festival

{{Infobox music festival

|music_festival_name = Japan Self-Defense Forces Marching Festival
自衛隊音楽まつり

|image = File:TS2_5069_平成25年度自衛隊音楽まつり_27.jpg

|location = Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan

|years_active= 1963 – present

|dates = Every November

|genre = military tattoo

|website = [https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/ Official website] (Japanese)

}}

The {{Nihongo|Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) Marching Festival|自衛隊音楽まつり|Jieitai Ongaku Matsuri}} is the main cultural military tattoo in Tokyo, which features guest bands from the Asia-Pacific regions as well as bands of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is regularly held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo every November. The festival was established in 1963, and is one of the oldest military tattoos in the Asia-Pacific region.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/|title=陸上自衛隊：自衛隊音楽まつり}}

History

The first event was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium as an independent Self-Defense Force commemorative event on 27 October 1963.[https://mag.mysound.jp/post/404 日本最高峰の吹奏楽団は自衛隊にあり！　魅惑の「自衛隊音楽隊」＜後編＞] It has been held every year since 1964, particularly during the Tokyo Olympics and in 1988, when the Emperor's medical condition worsened and celebratory events were therefore requested. From 1973, Nippon Budokan began to be used as a venue, however in 2019 (the first year of the Reiwa era), it was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium due to the renovation of the Budokan.[https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2019/06/25b.html 令和元年度自衛隊記念日記念行事について]

Overview

The content of each performance is a 2-hour presentation, which is composed of various songs such as pops, classical, jazz, theme music of movie and TV drama, anime songs, game music, and Japanese folk songs.

Every year, the last performance on the last day is broadcast simultaneously on the Internet, and edited DVDs are also marketed at a later date.

The organizer is Minister of Defense, with JGSDF Chief of Staff being in charge of implementation.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/about/2016/20161027.html |title=平成２８年１０月２７日（木）陸上幕僚長より平成２８年度自衛隊音楽まつりについて |language=ja |author=岡部俊哉 |date=2016-10-27 |publisher=陸上自衛隊 |accessdate=2016-10-30}}

Notable participants

The following multinational units have participated in the three day festival over the years:{{cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no107/specialfeature.html |title=SPECIAL FEATURE {{!}} JDF - Japan Defense Focus (No.107) {{!}} Japan Ministry of Defense |website=www.mod.go.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329050646/https://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no107/specialfeature.html |archive-date=2020-03-29}}

= Regular and semi-regular participants =

{{flagicon|Japan}} Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5951671/international-bands-perform-together-during-jsdf-marching-festival-2019|title = International bands perform together during JSDF Marching Festival 2019}}
{{flagicon|Japan}} Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Band, Tokyo (central band of JMSDF)
{{flagicon|Japan}} Japan Air Self-Defense Force Central Band
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF Northern Army Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/backnumber/music_festival_23.html |language=ja |title=平成23年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-07}}
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF North Eastern Army Band
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF Eastern Army Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/backnumber/music_festival_22.html |language=ja |title=平成22年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-07}}
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF Central Army Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/music_festival_24.html |language=ja |title=平成24年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-07}}
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF Western Army Band
{{flagicon|Japan}} Jieidaiko (JSDF Taiko Teams)
{{flagicon|Japan}} JGSDF 302nd Military Police Company (national honor guard of Japan)
{{flagicon|Japan}} National Defense Academy Honor Guard
{{flagicon|US}} United States Marine Corps III Marine Expeditionary Force Band
{{flagicon|US}} United States Seventh Fleet Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/music_festival_27.html |language=ja |title=平成27年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Japan Ground Self-Defense Force |accessdate=2020-06-04}}
{{flagicon|US}} United States Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia

= Regular participants in past =

{{flagicon|US}} United States Army Japan Band (1981 - 2023{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/USARJBand/posts/pfbid02LvhfGbCmkEX2dmeFKfXcdy2YPod1q1gDu8tYugQGD62boN1DdLohNXqPzS6YLFaBl |title=Many thanks to United States Army Garrison Japan for the video! |publisher=U.S. Army Japan Band - 在日米陸軍軍楽隊 |website=Facebook |date=2023-11-22 |accessdate=2023-11-24}})

= Guest participants in past =

{{flagicon|Australia}} Australian Army Band
{{flagicon|France}} Bagad Lann Bihoue of the French Navy
{{flagicon|Germany}} Staff Band of the Bundeswehr
{{flagicon|India}} Indian Army Chief's Band
{{flagicon|Jordan}} Jordanian Armed Forces Band{{Cite web |title=Jordanian Armed Forces Band participated at the 2024 Self-Defense Forces Music Festival |url=https://jordanembassyjapan.com/jordanian-armed-forces-band-participated-at-the-2024-self-defense-forces-music-festival/ |website=The Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan |access-date=2025-05-23}}
{{flagicon|Korea}} Korean Navy Band
{{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysian Armed Forces Central Band
{{flagicon|Philippines}} Philippine Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Team
{{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore Armed Forces Band
{{flagicon|Thailand}} Royal Thai Air Force Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/music_festival_29.html |language=ja |title=平成29年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-07}}
{{flagicon|Thailand}} Royal Thai Army Band{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/event/music_festival/music_festival_25.html |language=ja |title=平成25年度自衛隊音楽まつり |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-07}}
{{flagicon|Vietnam}} Military Ceremonial Troupe of the Vietnam People’s Army{{Cite web |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no119/activities.html |language=en |title=JSDF Marching Festival 2019 |publisher=Ministry of Defense |accessdate=2020-06-04}}